Peyton’s early headaches behind him as O’Shea eyes Cup Day

John O’Shea is confident that Peyton has his early career dramas now behind him as the promising three-year-old heads to Flemington on Tuesday.

The son of Zoustar was passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in 2025 after failing to reach the $500,000 reserve so breeder Rosemont Stud maintained the ownership.

While it took four starts to break his maiden status, O’Shea and training partner Tom Charlton set their sights on group racing.

Form around the liked of Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes quinella, The Next Episode and St Gotthard, are a couple of the top line horses of his age he has raced against so far.

The Schweppervesence Plate (1000m) is where Peyton starts third-up and O’Shea is happy to have the colt back at the races.

“I had him entered last at Flemington on Cox Plate Day but he didn’t travel that well so I left him an extra week and it has done him the world of good,” O’Shea said.

“We gave him a little tickover trial at Flemington on Friday to blow out a few cobwebs and I think he’ll run very well although it is a bit short of his best.

“It will also give him a chance to have a look up the straight.”

Peyton’s last run was in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) on October 10 where he finished fifth to stablemate Satono Glow and before that broke the maiden at Gosford in August.

His initial preparation presented some challenges.

“He just kept doing a few things (wrong),” O’Shea said.

“He hit his head in the gate one day at Warwick Farm and missed a run and then he had a little cough so nothing was going right that prep.

“He’s a really talented horse so hopefully he can break through on Tuesday.”